Kentucky–Tennessee football rivalry

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Battle of the Barrel
SportFootball
Teams
TrophyBeer Barrel (1925–1999)

Kentucky and Tennessee have faced off on the gridiron since 1893, making it one of the oldest rivalries in major college football. It was close in the early years, with Kentucky holding a series lead after the first 22 match-ups. But since the early 1930s, Tennessee has dominated the cross-border rivalry.

Both schools were charter members of the Southeastern Conference when it was established in 1932. Since that season, Tennessee has a 53–14–3 record against Kentucky, including a streak of 26 straight victories from 1985 to 2010, which is one of the longest such streaks in NCAA history. The Wildcats did not win any games against the Volunteers during the 1940s, 1990s, or 2000s. The only decade of the SEC era in which UK posted a winning record against Tennessee was the 1950s, when they went 6–3–1. The series was not without disappointment even during that period for Kentucky fans, however, as the Vols dealt Bear Bryant's 1950 Wildcat squad their only defeat during their school-best 11–1 season.

The Barrel

History of the trophy

The Kentucky–Tennessee game once involved a trophy: a wooden beer barrel painted half blue and half orange which was awarded to the winner of the game every year from 1925 to 1997. The Barrel was introduced in 1925 by a group of former Kentucky students who wanted to create a material sign of their school's supremacy in the rivalry. It was rolled onto the field that year with the words "Ice Water" painted on it to avoid any outcries over an alcohol drum symbolizing a college rivalry during the Prohibition era.

While the trophy was ceremonially awarded to the game's winner each year, it took some unauthorized trips over the years. Tennessee lost to Kentucky in 1953, but several orange-clad students "keg-napped" the barrel and kept it hidden in Knoxville until UK students retaliated by "dog-napping" Smokey. The barrel theft set in motion a series of additional pranks over the next few years between students of the two schools, but the barrel was not involved.

Vanderbilt University students stole the keg from Kentucky in 1960 to rally support from cross-state UT students in an upcoming basketball game against Kentucky. The Commodores lost the game and returned the trophy months later.

End of the Barrel era

A fatal alcohol-related car crash involving two UK football players a week before the 1998 contest prompted the end of the barrel exchange. Kentucky athletic director C. M. Newton expressed the idea that the ongoing use of an alcohol container as a trophy would be inappropriate under the circumstances. The ceremony was cancelled for the 1998 game, and the two schools mutually agreed to permanently discontinue the tradition before the 1999 game.[1][2]

The actual barrel was in UT's possession when the schools ended the exchange, but its current whereabouts have not been made public. It has not been displayed since 1997, and it was not transferred to Kentucky when the Wildcats broke the Volunteers' long series winning streak in 2011.[3]

Notable games

  • 2007: Tennessee comes to Lexington looking to clinch the SEC East and a trip to Atlanta after a strong victory over Georgia and Florida stumbling midway through the season. Kentucky comes in with one of its strongest teams in years behind star QB Andre Woodson and a huge upset over then-ranked #1 LSU now looking to end the 22-game losing streak to the Volunteers. The game becomes a fierce, nail-biting, overtime thriller as Woodson fights to end Kentucky's misery against Tennessee. In the second overtime Tennessee fails to score giving Kentucky a chance to finally end the streak, but the ensuing field goal is blocked. With the score at 44–44 an unsportsmanlike penalty on UT RB Arian Foster would force Tennessee to start the fourth overtime from the UK 40-yard line, but it would be rendered moot as QB Erik Ainge hits WR Quintin Hancock with a touchdown strike on the first play. Tennessee would make the two-point conversion. On Kentucky's ensuing possession RB Derrick Locke scores from three yards out to bring Kentucky within a two-point conversion to keep the game alive. Woodson would keep the ball himself on the try, but would be stopped from behind short of the goal line. Tennessee would move on to the SEC title game where they would lose to eventual national champions LSU.
  • 2008: Phillip Fulmer's final game as Tennessee's head coach. Fulmer finishes his career off with his final victory over the Wildcats, 28–10, leaving Kentucky winless against Fulmer.
  • 2009: Tennessee and Kentucky go to overtime once again after another nail-biting game ends tied at 24–24 in regulation. Kentucky relied on star receiver Randall Cobb for most of the game, however Cobb was ineffective on the Wildcats' first possession in overtime only taking one wildcat formation snap. After a three-and-out the ensuing field goal misses wide left. On the Vols' ensuing possession, RB Montario Hardesty breaks off a 20-yard run for the game-winning touchdown in Lane Kiffin's lone victory against the Wildcats.
  • 2011: After losing 26 straight games to Tennessee the Wildcats finally notch a 10–7 victory against the Volunteers behind the play of wide receiver Matt Roark who was forced to play under center as both quarterbacks, Maxwell Smith and Morgan Newton, were out with injuries. Volunteer fans cite this loss as one of the most embarrassing in school history especially under the guidance of then head coach Derek Dooley.[citation needed]

Game results

Kentucky victoriesTennessee victoriesTies and forfeits
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 1893 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 56–0
2 1899 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 12–0
3 1901 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 5–0
4 1906 Lexington, KY Kentucky 21–0
5 1907 Knoxville, TN Tie0–0
6 1908 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 7–0
7 1909 Lexington, KY Kentucky 17–0
8 1910 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 10–0
9 1911 Lexington, KY Kentucky 12–0
10 1912 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 13–6
11 1913 Lexington, KY Tennessee 13–7
12 1914 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 23–6
13 1915 Lexington, KY Kentucky 6–0
14 1916 Knoxville, TN Tie0–0
15 1919 Lexington, KY Kentucky 13–0
16 1920 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 14–7
17 1921 Lexington, KY Tie0–0
18 1922 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 14–7
19 1923 Lexington, KY Tennessee 18–0
20 1924 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 27–6
21 1925 Lexington, KY Kentucky 23–20
22 1926 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 6–0
23 1927 Lexington, KY Tennessee 20–0
24 1928 Knoxville, TN Tie0–0
25 1929 Lexington, KY Tie6–6
26 1930 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 8–0
27 1931 Lexington, KY Tie6–6
28 1932 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 26–0
29 1933 Lexington, KY Tennessee 27–0
30 1934 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 19–0
31 1935 Lexington, KY Kentucky 27–0
32 1936 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 7–6
33 1937 Lexington, KY Tennessee 13–0
34 1938 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 46–0
35 1939 Lexington, KY Tennessee 19–0
36 1940 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 33–0
37 1941 Lexington, KY Tennessee 20–7
38 1942 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 26–0
39 1944 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 26–13
40 1944 Lexington, KY Tennessee 21–7
41 1945 Lexington, KY Tennessee 14–0
42 1946 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 7–0
43 1947 Lexington, KY Tennessee 13–7
44 1948 Knoxville, TN Tie0–0
45 1949 Lexington, KY Tennessee 6–0
46 1950 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 7–0
47 1951 Lexington, KY Tennessee 28–0
48 1952 Knoxville, TN Tie14–14
49 1953 Lexington, KY Kentucky 27–21
50 1954 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 14–13
51 1955 Lexington, KY Kentucky 23–0
52 1956 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 20–7
53 1957 Lexington, KY Kentucky 20–6
54 1958 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 6–2
55 1959 Lexington, KY Kentucky 20–0
56 1960 Knoxville, TN Tie10–10
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
57 1961 Lexington, KY Tennessee 26–16
58 1962 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 12–10
59 1963 Lexington, KY Tennessee 19–0
60 1964 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 12–7
61 1965 Lexington, KY Tennessee 19–3
62 1966 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 28–19
63 1967 Lexington, KY Tennessee 17–7
64 1968 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 24–7
65 1969 Lexington, KY Tennessee 31–26
66 1970 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 45–0
67 1971 Lexington, KY Tennessee 21–7
68 1972 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 17–7
69 1973 Lexington, KY Tennessee 16–14
70 1974 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 24–7
71 1975 Lexington, KY Tennessee 17–13
72 1976 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 7–0
73 1977 Lexington, KY Kentucky 21–17
74 1978 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 29–14
75 1979 Lexington, KY Tennessee 20–17
76 1980 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 45–14
77 1981 Lexington, KY Kentucky 21–10
78 1982 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 28–7
79 1983 Lexington, KY Tennessee 10–0
80 1984 Knoxville, TN Kentucky 17–12
81 1985 Lexington, KY Tennessee 42–0
82 1986 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 28–9
83 1987 Lexington, KY Tennessee 24–22
84 1988 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 28–24
85 1989 Lexington, KY Tennessee 31–10
86 1990 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 42–28
87 1991 Lexington, KY Tennessee 16–7
88 1992 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 34–13
89 1993 Lexington, KY Tennessee 48–0
90 1994 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 52–0
91 1995 Lexington, KY Tennessee 34–31
92 1996 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 56–10
93 1997 Lexington, KY Tennessee 59–31
94 1998 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 59–21
95 1999 Lexington, KY Tennessee 56–21
96 2000 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 59–20
97 2001 Lexington, KY Tennessee 38–35
98 2002 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 24–0
99 2003 Lexington, KY Tennessee 20–7
100 2004 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 37–31
101 2005 Lexington, KY Tennessee 27–8
102 2006 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 17–12
103 2007 Lexington, KY Tennessee 52–504OT
104 2008 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 28–10
105 2009 Lexington, KY Tennessee 30–24OT
106 2010 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 24–14
107 2011 Lexington, KY Kentucky 10–7
108 2012 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 37–17
109 2013 Lexington, KY Tennessee 27–14
110 2014 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 50–16
111 2015 Lexington, KY Tennessee 52–21
Series: Tennessee leads 78–24–9

See also

References

  1. ^ [1][dead link]
  2. ^ Low, Chris (November 25, 2008). "Alabama looks to break six-game losing streak in Iron Bowl". ESPN.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  3. ^ Smithey, Jesse (December 17, 2005). "Smithey: UT, Kentucky unlikely to roll out barrel". Knoxville News Sentinel. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on November 22, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2015.